PWH at the Canadian Western Agribition

The decision to enter Agribition was made back in September. It was a show I wanted to go to for a couple of years but either scheduling conflicts or bad weather had prevented us from making the trip from Alberta. 

The sheep left the farm on Wednesday morning and we were planning on having them arrive in Regina sometime that evening. However my parents who were driving the truck and trailer ran into a storm and had to stay overnight in Gull Lake and try to make it the rest of the way in the morning. 
Around 2:00 in the afternoon on Thursday they made it to Barn 5 and got unloaded. Later that afternoon the sheep were vet checked and the Commercial Sheep Show took place. I was planning on driving down that night from Saskatoon, but the road report still had a significant area highlighted with 'travel not recommended' so I stayed put and made the drive in the morning. 

Two of my ewes all settled in.

Friday morning I made it to the grounds around noon and started trimming sheep right away. I got three of my ewes done before the Purebred Show started at 2:30. There were lots of sheep in the barn and they were able to have five breed shows: Dorper, Dorset, Hampshire, North Country Cheviot and Suffolk. There were two other Hampshire breeders showing and I had four entries in the Hampshire section of the show: two yearling ewes and two ewes 2yrs. or older. In both classes my ewes came in 1st and 2nd place and got to advance to the Champion Hampshire Ewe class. My yearling ewe Prairie Winds 8Y won the Reserve Champion Ewe for the Hampshire breed. After the Grand Champions were crowned the Interprovincial Competition took place. I brought my four ewes back in along with a Yearling Hampshire ram from another Alberta breeder to make up the unit to compete against a Saskatchewan group of Hampshires, an Alberta group of Dorsets and a Saskatchewan group of Hampshires. After the show was over we went to the banquet and enjoyed a delicious dinner.

The Hampshire class of ewes 2 years and older. The middle ewe is Prairie Winds 1X and the ewe on the right is Prairie Winds 2X.

Saturday morning I was back at the barns early to feed and finish trimming my ewes for the Jr. Show. I wanted to make sure my animals looked their best as this would be the last year I would be young enough to enter in it. My yearling ewe Prairie Winds 8Y won the yearling class and my mature ewe Prairie Winds 1X placed 2nd in her class, both moved on to the Champion Class where Prairie Winds 1X won Reserve Champion. 

After the Jr. Show was over we sat and watched the SSBA sale, we didn't do any buying but there were definitely some ewes I would have liked to take home. That afternoon we finally had a chance to wander around and have a look at the massive trade fair and other exhibits. It was an eye opener to find out how much there was to see beyond the sheep barn. Just after 4:00 we walked over to the beef show ring to watch the RBC Beef Supreme Challenge. Of all the things going on at Agribition I would say that is a must see event because of all of the different breeds of Champion cattle showing in one ring. Sadly we weren't able to watch the Champions be selected because the sheep move out time was 6:00 and we had to get our stalls packed up. 

Watching the female portion of the Beef Supreme, there was so many animals we couldn't get them all in one shot.

The truck and trailer making their way back to Alberta on Saturday morning.

Overall it was a very successful and fun Agribition for PWH. We will be back next year for the show, hopefully driving through nice sunny weather and with more animals.

Sheep Snapshot Sunday: Agribition

Ribbons from the SSBA and Junior Shows at Agribition 2012.

Alberta Agiculture

This video has lots of facts about how awesome Alberta's agriculture industry is. Enjoy!

Rams for Sale

Here are pictures and links to pedigrees of the Hampshire rams I currently have for sale. 

Prairie Winds 2Y~ Pedigree

Prairie Winds 4X~ Pedigree

Comment for more information.

PWH at the Priddis & Millarville Fair

Last Saturday we travelled to our 4th Priddis & Millarville Fair with 20 sheep for the sheep show. We had entries in all section of the showing including Purebred, Grade, Market Lamb, Junior and Coloured Sheep which was why we had so many going. The day before was spent washing and trimming with a break in the afternoon to deliver our photography and art entries.
The number of entries was definitely up this year and hopefully next year the show will be just as big. It was a very good day for our family with success in many classes including the Champion Purebred Ewe and Ram. Because I won with these animals I was also chosen as the Award of Excellence winner  for the 12-18 yr. old category.

Tank aka Prairie Winds 1Y was the Champion Purebred Ewe, she also won this award last year as a ewe lamb.

My ram lamb Prairie Winds 21Z was the Champion Purebred Ram.

In the Grade section we had the 1st place Ewe Lamb and Ewe 2yrs. or Over and in the Coloured Sheep  section we had 1st place in the Coloured Sheep class and 1st place in the Coloured Ewe with Lambs class. For a full list of placings go to the Show News tab.

The fair is a lot of fun to attend and we will be back next year. The show is very relaxed and it is nice to see everyone have fun showing. Thank-you to all the volunteers and sponsors for putting on a great show and fair!

Why do sheep wear blankets?

Q: Why do sheep wear blankets?

A: Blankets or spandex tubes are worn by sheep that have been groomed for show to keep them clean until they go into the ring. A lot of work can go into washing and trimming an animal to make it look its best and usually this prep happens awhile before show time. This gap of time between grooming and showing gives your animals the opportunity to really get dirty, it is amazing how you can put a clean blanket on your lamb one night and come back the next morning to find it not looking so clean anymore. Blankets definitely save time the morning of the show because they eliminate most of the need to spot wash and dust off any shavings/hay.

Fluff aka Prairie Winds 1X in her blanket won at the Provincial Sheep Show in 2011.

This is one of the most common questions people have when we have our sheep on display before a show. Most think their purpose is too keep the sheep warm, but even though some of the lambs have been slick shorn this is not the case. The shows we usually attend are during the summer so it is nice and warm and during the winter their wool provides enough insulation that blankets are not needed like they might be for horses. 

We order our blankets from the CCWG in Lethbridge where they come in three sizes. A size one fits smaller lambs with full fleece or a bit larger lambs that are slick shorn. Most of our market lambs end up wearing ones if they are under 120 lbs. if they are a bigger framed lamb then they wear a size two. Smaller ewes also wear twos and the rest of the ewes and rams wear threes. Fluff is pictured here wearing a size three.

Lamb tubes are also another option, they are made from spandex and come in a variety of different colors and patterns. This website really has a great selection of tubes and even colored blankets: Show Stopper Equipment .

Sheep Snapshot Sunday: Vermillion Fair

My ewes at the Vermillion Fair last week.

Stampede Success

Once again I entered art in the Creative Arts & Crafts competition at the Calgary Stampede. We went in in Sneek-a-Peek night to go see how my two drawings did. This year was the first year I had to enter in the Open category because I am now to old to enter in the Junior division so I wasn't expecting to do as well as I did. 
Here are the photos I used as a reference and the artwork I entered.

A close-up picture of my cow Hunny.

My ink drawing that won second place in its class. 

A picture of one of my purebred hampshire rams, Prairie Winds 4X.

My pencil sketch that won first place in its class.

The Western Oasis is one of my favorite places to visit during Stampede, its so quiet and there is so much beautiful artwork on display. I will definitely continue to enter and can't wait for next year's show!

PWH at the Vermillion Fair

This past Wednesday Prairie Winds Hampshires travelled to the Vermillion Fair for their sheep show. We arrived late Wednesday night to the fair grounds and got the animals settled in the sheep barn. 
Thursday afternoon the show started with the Trimming and Lamb Judging components of the Junior Show. I participated and won 1st in the Senior division of both Trimming and Judging. The Open Show was later in the afternoon and we placed at the top of both the ewe and ewe lamb classes. 
The Junior Show's conformation classes were Friday afternoon and I did very well with my animals. All the ewes I brought to show were part of my purebred flock and I was proud to showcase the Hampshire breed.

Reserve Champion Ewe Lamb

Reserve Champion Ewe

 My Reserve Champion Flock and the Grand Champion Flock on the right.

I had an awesome time in Vermillion and will definitely be back next year to show again and enjoy the fair. Thank-you to everyone involved with the Fair and the Sheep Show for your hospitality and putting on a great event!

Summer Synergy 2012

Since Tuesday we have been in Olds for the 2nd Annual Provincial Sheep Show and Summer Synergy. This year I am just a lucky spectator and happy to not have to be working in the heat. Yesterday the sheep participants competed in sheep judging, marketing and trimming components of the show. They also took part in a felting workshop and made a craft. Today was the breeding project show and the members of the Standard Sheep Club did very well. Tomorrow the market lamb,showmanship and costume classes will take place and the Synergy competitors will find out if they have won a scholarship.

4-H on Parade 2012 Sheep Show Schedule

This weekend we will be packing up and heading into Calgary for 4-H on Parade, the annual regional super-sized achievement day for 4-H members of many clubs with a wide range of projects. My brother will be showing his ewe lamb, yearling ewe and her lamb and showing and selling a pen of three market lambs this year. On Thursday night we will take in the lambs and get the stall area decorated, but the actual competitions don't start until Friday.
The sheep stalls and sheep show ring will be located in the Producers Tent which usually is home to Ag-tivity in the City during Stampede time. The market lamb sale will take place next door in the Agriculture Building's Pavillion.


Here is the schedule of events for the Sheep Show:


Friday June 1
2:00-3:00 Lamb Trimming Competition
3:30-4:30 Lamb Judging Competition
Also most of the members will be grooming their sheep in preparation for the show so if you want to see a lamb getting a bath this is the day to come!
Saturday June 2
9:00-10:00 Market Lamb Classes
10:15-11:45 Pen of Three Classes
1:15-3:00 Breeding Ewe Classes (ie. Ewe Lamb, Yearling Ewe, Mature Ewe and Breeding Flock)
3:30-4:30 Showmanship Classes (ie. Junior, Intermediate, Senior)
Sunday June 3
11:00 Market Lamb Sales followed by sale of the Charity Lamb


A complete schedule of events can be found at http://ag.calgarystampede.com/events/509-4-h-on-parade.html#schedule.


I encourage everyone to come down to Stampede Park to see this event especially on Saturday because this is the day when most of the shows involving animals happen (sheep, beef, dairy, heavy and light horse) and the lifeskills projects will also be on display. 4-H on Parade is great for those who are interested in learning about agriculture but missed out on Aggie Days or don't enjoy how busy the grounds can get during Stampede. If you do stop by make sure to come over to the smaller white Producers Tent to see/pet the sheep and ask the members questions about their projects.

Rams

Today I sold two of my ram lambs. Before leaving we completed a manifest and tagged them with the yellow CSIP tags required for transportation and gave them a dose of dewormer. We loaded the boys in the trailer and took them to their temporary new home where they will be eating grass in their own pasture until the breeder is ready to let them out with his ewes in late summer/early fall. 
The buyer likes the Suffolk breed so we made sure we saved some good ram lambs that had Suffolk bloodlines. Both rams were from our mainly Suffolk commercial strain of ewes but one was out of a Hampshire ram and the other a Suffolk so there was a little bit of a difference in their appearance in terms of wool covering. We noticed there was also a bit of a size difference as one ram was tagged 1Z (our first lamb born) and 53Z (our fifty-third lamb born), in this case the lamb born earlier was larger than the lamb born later.
We also hauled the five older rams over to my grandmas to be put on pasture. All five are purebred Hampshires and three of them are for sale. We also have purebred Hamp ram lambs at home still that are also for sale, pictures coming soon!

Rain is a Good Thing

This past week we have seen a lot of rain. It is kind of depressing to look out the window and see dark, cloudy skies and not be able to do much outside but the rain is great for all types of plant life that we rely on to feed our animals. The rainfall that comes during the spring, summer and early fall waters our pastures, crops and land for hay; directly allowing us to produce feed for our animals to eat year-round. 


During a break in the showers we loaded up my small cow herd and hauled them to my grandmas where their pasture is. We don't have enough pasture land at our place for the sheep flock and cow herd to graze on all summer so most of our animals spend their summer at my grandmas farm where there is plenty of grass. We spend quite a substantial amount of time there too rotating animals around between the pens, watering and making sure that they are all happy and healthy. 


In a few weeks some of our sheep will go over there to be let out on pasture too. First the cull ewes, wether and some of the ewe lambs will be sorted out of the flock and be sold. Then on May 12 the remaining ewes, rams and 4-H lambs will be shorn for summer and upcoming shows. Sometime after that we will give all the lambs still on the farm their second round of vaccinations (boost) and their CSIP tags that are required for transport so they are able to go join their cow friends where the grass is truly greener than at home. 

Taking Over the Web

AGvocacy is spreading all over the web and I've found another great example on youtube.


For everyone wanting to get an inside look at the ag. industry check out Meet Americas Farmers Youtube Channel for great videos of agvocates from dairy and beef cattle, swine, sheep, poultry and crop growing Americans. Yes I wish there was a Canadian version too, but these videos are great to watch for those interested in learning more about the agriculture industry in North America.

Spring and Easter

Today its raining in the city and it makes me hopeful that spring is here. Normally associated with new life like flowers, green grass and leaves on the trees but here in Alberta it still looks pretty barren even though spring equinox happened awhile ago. Easter time has come and gone and we are pretty well done lambing (two ewes are left) even though most would think that now would be the time we would be starting since the weather is so much nicer. Along with new plant growth in Spring and chocolate at Easter, baby animals are also a traditional sign that spring is here.


While a spring lambing season sounds much easier we lamb earlier so that there are lots of lambs to choose from for 4-H market lamb projects. However there are always some that decide to wait to have their lambs, usually it is the first-timers that lamb after most of the herd. During breeding season ewe lambs may need a few extra weeks to mature before being bred and according to what I learned in biology last term their gestation period may be a little longer (especially when carrying twins) because their energy budget is different than a mature ewe during gestation. Ewe lambs will be putting more energy into their own growth and maintenance than a mature ewe along with the energy required for fetal development of their lamb(s), equalling more time being pregnant. However this is not always the case this year we had a couple of ewe lambs that lambed at the same time as the older ewes but the last 8 ewes that have lambed have all been ewe lambs.


Sometimes being pregnant as a ewe lamb can affect the ewes own personal growth because so much of her energy is being put into the lambs so it is important that they are very well fed during pregnancy and while nursing. We have left a couple of ewe lambs open some years to allow them to grow and mature to be ready to raise lambs next year.


Here are some pictures of the newest babies on the farm

97 days

The countdown begins to the Calgary Stampede's Centennial! For me Stampede is not too far behind Christmas for my favorite time of the year, especially since last year was so much fun. This year is sure to be extra special too since the exhibition is celebrating 100 years.

Last year my Stampede started on Sneak-a-Peek night, July 7, with the reception for the winners of the Western Art Scholarship in the BMO Center's Western Oasis. The reception took place before the venue was opened to the public allowing us to get a look at the artwork, crafts and photography before anyone else. The awards were handed out and we were treated to some music, I can honestly say the atmosphere changed quite dramatically when we ventured out of the hall and into the busy midway. We watched my cousin skate in the Enmax Ice Show and wandered around the grounds for the rest of the night.
Days later we were back. July 16 I headed back into the city very early in the morning to the Stampede grounds but this time I went in the back to get accreditation to be on the grounds as an exhibitor. I was lucky enough to win with my Yearling Ewe at the Provincial Sheep Show and that morning we met the trailer at the Ag. Building to unload my ewe and her lambs. Once they got settled into their pen, I hauled water and gave them hay. 
Next the exhibitors met for information about the schedule for the day. Groups of Sr. members started to head over to another building for their scholarship interviews, I think I was in the last group and was excited to talk to the judges about the sheep industry. After the interview I pulled out my ewe and lambs for a quick grooming before heading over to the Big Top tent for the Supreme Parade of Champions. Winners from the beef, dairy and sheep shows at Summer Synergy all entered the ring for the judge to select the Supreme winners of each group, it was pretty interesting seeing so many excellant looking animals being shown at the same time. While I didn't take home the top prize I was happy a fellow Hampshire breeder won Supreme Champion with her awesome mature ewe and twin lambs. 
Later that night the Sr. members were called upstairs in the Ag. Building for the big announcement of who would be receiving the $2000 and $1000 scholarships ( I got a $1000 one) and for cowboy hat fitting. Next we went downstairs to have a group picture in our hats and jackets with the sponsors and travelled in a group over to the grandstand. We arrived during the chuckwagon races it was neat to stand so close to the rail as the wagons went by. In-between heats we walked out onto the grandstand and had our names called one by one infront of the huge crowd. After that it was back to the barns to feed and water the sheep for the night and head home. 
We were there early again the next morning to feed and water the sheep, you could tell it had been a long week from the people passed out in the tack room. Since there was no scheduled events for us that day most of my time was spent sitting in a lawn chair beside the stalls answering questions about the sheep. We also walked around the grounds to pass the time until it was time to move out the animals.
Last year's Stampede was lots of fun and I also came home with $3000 in my jeans by the end of it. I can't wait for this years!

Sheep Snapshot Sunday: Show Potential

One of my purebred hamp lambs who will definitely have a future in the show ring.

Project Shopping

This past weekend we weighed most of our lambs in preparation for the upcoming 4-H weigh-in. While I am no longer a member in the club my brother and some other members will be picking out their lambs for their projects this week and taking them to weigh-in on Friday. With the date set a week earlier this year we selected lambs that are in the weight range from the high 40s to 60 lbs. as a suitable size for market projects. Based on the number of days until the show and the average daily gain for lambs we hope these lambs will all finish around 110 lbs. Picking from our own stock has always been something we have prided ourselves on. We have been lucky enough to never have to go outside the farm to pick our 4-H lambs so we know how they have grown from birth. However it is still hard to visualize what lambs will look like in 2.5-3 months on show day so picking is never easy.
Here are pictures of some prospect 4-H lambs

Baby Faces

A true Hampshire lamb, notice the patch on his head where his wool cap will come in as he grows. 

A Suffolk ewe lamb, with a clean black face and legs.

pinterest find

Check out this board on pinterest it has great images, info and stats about farming!

Keeping it Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl

The Lambs Are Here

I haven't really had the time to do any blogging lately but I thought I would share some pictures from my last couple weekends at home helping with lambing.

The only lamb so far with a face like this, the coloring is a result of
Polypay and Merino genetics on his mom's side.

Our only black lamb in the house getting dried off on a cold night.

Having a nap with Shadow the cat who adores his sheep.

A yearling ewe and her triplets.

A ewe lamb sporting her new pink tag. This year we tagged all the
ewe lambs with pink tags and the ram lambs with yellow.